Reps Leader, Gbajabiamila canvasses higher wages for workers

The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila has said Nigerian workers deserve adequate remuneration in view of their contributions to the economy.

Gbajabiamila spoke with newsmen after teaching more Senior Secondary School students in their classrooms in his Surulere 1 Federal Constituency.

On Friday, the lawmaker taught students topics in Civic Education at Akintan High School, Ansarul -Deen Senior Secondary School and Obele Senior High School.

Gbajabiamila had on Thursday taught senior students in three schools lessons in Economics at the commencement of his voluntary teaching exercise in some schools in the area.

He said a well- motivated workforce was key to a productive nation, as workers remain the livewire of the economy just as he described the current minimum wage of N18,000 as abysmally low, saying it did not reflect the realities.

The lawmaker said the House of Representatives would do everything within its powers to ensure workers were paid living wages.

Gbajabiamila said he was passionate about the welfare of workers, which was why he sponsored bills on minimum wage review.

“Anything to do with Labour, anything to do with security and welfare of workers, count me in, for sure. Workers welfare is an emotional thing for me, and that is why I think the N30,000 minimum wage being talked about is not even enough, not even near what workers should be earning.

“So, we need to critically look at that area because a productive labour is a productive labour force. And we will do something in that regard.

“I proposed a bill that wages of workers have to be reviewed every five years and not until there is an outcry. That bill is almost law now. It will go for the president’s signature.

“There must be a standard review of workers wages periodically. That is the right thing and that is what we want to achieve, ” he said.

On education, the lawmaker said there must be conscious efforts by government and all stakeholders to develop the sector.

He said that education was the foundation of development and there must be adequate investment in the sector for sustainable development.

The lawmaker said the house would do everything possible to see that the sector got the right budgetary allocation.

Gbajabiamila said there was hope for the country if everyone showed the right attitude to education and other things that could promote development.

He said the decision to take students in his constituency classes was not only to impart knowledge to them but to inspire them.

The lawmaker added that the decision was also to know what the learning looked and felt like for the necessary intervention.

Gbajabiamila described his experiences in class as rewarding, promising to do it again and again.